More coronavirus cases in Iran’s Qom; religious gatherings under threat
DUBAI – Iranian health officials have urged all religious gatherings to be suspended in Qom, news agency ISNA said, after two more people tested positive for the coronavirus in the…
German gunman kills 9 in shisha bar rampage; extremist motive suspected
HANAU, Germany – A suspected right-wing extremist has shot dead nine people, some of them migrants from Turkey, in an overnight rampage through a German city before killing himself, officials…
UK PM’s adviser quits after backlash over contraception, IQ comments
LONDON – An adviser to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who had discussed the benefits of forced contraception has quit, saying “media hysteria” about his old online posts meant he…
UN envoy condemns use of birdshot against Iraqi protesters
BAGHDAD – The top United Nations envoy to Iraq has condemned the use of hunting rifles loaded with birdshot against peaceful protesters in Baghdad and urged the government to ensure…
Thai army to transfer control of land after mass shooting
BANGKOK – Thailand’s army has agreed to transfer management control of 160,000 hectares of commercial land to the finance ministry in a drive to reform its business practices after a…
US ready to allow North Korea sanctions exemption to combat coronavirus
WASHINGTON/SEOUL – The United States is “deeply concerned” about the possible impact of a coronavirus outbreak in North Korea and is prepared to facilitate efforts by US and international organisations…
Japan records first coronavirus death, two taxi drivers test positive
TOKYO – A woman has died from the coronavirus in Japan, the first such death in the country since the epidemic spread from China, the health minister said. Two taxi…
Airbus unveils ‘blended wing body’ plane design after secret flight tests
SINGAPORE – Airbus has unveiled a curvaceous aircraft design that blends wing and body, designed to slash carbon emissions by some 20%. The European planemaker has been carrying out flight…
China reports 108 new coronavirus deaths on Feb. 10, toll rises to 1,016
SHANGHAI – China has reported 108 new coronavirus deaths on Febraury 10, the highest daily increase so far, and up from 97 on the previous day, the health authority said.…
UK declares coronavirus a serious and imminent threat to public health
LONDON – Britain says that the new coronavirus is a serious and imminent threat to public health, a step that gives the government additional powers to fight the spread of the virus.…
